MCQ
Q.
Mohiniattam is a famous dance form of which state?
Correct Answer: B
Key Points
Mohini Attam:
- Mohiniattam or Mohiniyattam is an Indian classical dance form that evolved in the state of Kerala.
- Mohiniattam is among the two popular dance arts of the state, the other being Kathakali.
- Mohiniyattam is considered a very graceful form of dance meant to be performed as solo recitals by women.
- It is believed to have originated in the 16th century.
- It is one of the eight Indian classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Important Points
- Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, the doyen of classical dance form Mohiniyattam passed away in the Palakkad district of Kerala. She was 77.
- She was regarded as a matriarch of Mohiniyattam and was well-known for her experimental reforms in this classical dance form which helped to preserve and popularise the traditional art form.
Thus, Mohini Attam is a famous dance form of Kerala.
Additional Information
Kuchipudi:
- Kuchipudi, one of the major dance forms of India was originated from Andhra Pradesh.
- It is the traditional dance of the state.
- It grew largely as a product of the Bhakti movement beginning in the 7th Century AD.
- Kuchipudi derives its name from the village Kuchelapuram, where it was nurtured by great scholars and artists who built up the repertoire and refined the dance technique.
Bharat Natyam:
- Bharata Natyam is a form of Indian classical dance that originated in the temples of Tamil Nadu.
- It is known for its grace, elegance, purity, tenderness, expression and sculpturesque poses.
Kathak:
- Kathak is a North Indian dance that originated in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
- The name Kathak comes from the word "Katha" which means a story.
Kathakali:
- Kathakali is a classical Indian dance form which is a story play genre of art is the folk dance form of Kerala.
- Kathakali is the most difficult style of the traditional dance form.
- In this, the actors speak ‘sign language’ where hand gestures are used to dictate word part of the character and facial and eye movements express emotions and mood.
- Kathakali is based on the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Odissi:
- Odissi is a dance of love and passion touching on the divine and the human, the sublime and the mundane.
- The Natya Shastra mentions many regional varieties, such as the south-eastern style kanharis were the chief repositories of this dance.
- The maharis, who were originally temple dancers came to be employed in royal courts which resulted in the degeneration of the art form.
